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Vol. 28 01 Hurricane Katrina, which struck New Orleans and the Gulf
Coast on August 29,2005, not only caused immense destruction and untold
human suffering, but also offered the television viewing public a glimpse of the
world of the poor. Back in the 1960s, Michael Harrington's book 77?e Other
America pointed out that the poor in our country are for the most part invisible. In
response, President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty helped expose the plight
of poor people. Federal initiatives, such as the Food Stamp program, have
enabled many needy people to survive. The economic boom of the 1990s lifted
over 4 million of the working poor out of poverty. Over the last four years,
however, the poor have once again disappeared from view. Today, those who
live in mainstream America can maintain their regular daily routines without ever
rubbing shoulders with poor people. Suburbanites, who work in urban areas
populated by large numbers of the poor, can drive to work, do their jobs and
return to their homes without any direct contact with those in need. The affluent
recreate in private clubs and not in parks open to the poor. Tourists who visited
New Orleans in the past could enjoy the distinctive features of that great city -
the French Quarter, Dixieland jazz, fine restaurants -- and remain completely
unaware of the poor neighborhoods around the city. Even lifelong residents of
New Orleans have expressed shock over the extent of the poverty in their city
that was revealed by Katrina.
Out of sight, out of mind, the poor are largely forgotten in the political
process. In the last presidential campaign, for example, neither candidate paid
much attention to the predicament of the poor or put much emphasis on

Vol. 28 01 Hurricane Katrina, which struck New Orleans and the Gulf
Coast on August 29,2005, not only caused immense destruction and untold
human suffering, but also offered the television viewing public a glimpse of the
world of the poor. Back in the 1960s, Michael Harrington's book 77?e Other
America pointed out that the poor in our country are for the most part invisible. In
response, President Lyndon Johnson's War on Poverty helped expose the plight
of poor people. Federal initiatives, such as the Food Stamp program, have
enabled many needy people to survive. The economic boom of the 1990s lifted
over 4 million of the working poor out of poverty. Over the last four years,
however, the poor have once again disappeared from view. Today, those who
live in mainstream America can maintain their regular daily routines without ever
rubbing shoulders with poor people. Suburbanites, who work in urban areas
populated by large numbers of the poor, can drive to work, do their jobs and
return to their homes without any direct contact with those in need. The affluent
recreate in private clubs and not in parks open to the poor. Tourists who visited
New Orleans in the past could enjoy the distinctive features of that great city -
the French Quarter, Dixieland jazz, fine restaurants -- and remain completely
unaware of the poor neighborhoods around the city. Even lifelong residents of
New Orleans have expressed shock over the extent of the poverty in their city
that was revealed by Katrina.
Out of sight, out of mind, the poor are largely forgotten in the political
process. In the last presidential campaign, for example, neither candidate paid
much attention to the predicament of the poor or put much emphasis on